U.S. Racial Issues

1995-10-16T18:55:12-04:00https://images.c-span.org/defaults/capitol.jpgPresident Clinton talked about racism and racial conflict in the United States at the University of Texas in Austin. He began by recognizing that white and black Americans “see the same world in drastically different ways.” Such differences, the president suggested, stem from a stubborn history of racism as well as the inability to identify with the modern day experiences of people. He also acknowledged that as far as the nation has come, too many citizens still have not learned to work across racial lines. The country has faced these times in the past, President Clinton admitted. It was at such times like the Civil War, the fight for women’s sufferage, and the struggle for civil rights legislation that people looked into the “national mirror and were brave enough to say, this is not who we are; we’re better than that.” Both world views have truths and distortions, the president said, but there is still a stake in solving problems together. The president asked every citizent to reach out to people of different races and listen to their needs with an open heart and mind.

U.S. Racial IssuesPresident Clinton talked about racism and racial conflict in the United States at the University of Texas in Austin. He began by recognizing that white and black Americans “see the same world in drastically different ways.” Such differences, the president suggested, stem from a stubborn history of racism as well as the inability to identify with the modern day experiences of people. He also acknowledged that as far as the nation has come, too many citizens still have not learned to work across racial lines. The country has faced these times in the past, President Clinton admitted. It was at such times like the Civil War, the fight for women’s sufferage, and the struggle for civil rights legislation that people looked into the “national mirror and were brave enough to say, this is not who we are; we’re better than that.” Both world views have truths and distortions, the president said, but there is still a stake in solving problems together. The president asked every citizent to reach out to people of different races and listen to their needs with an open heart and mind. close